Hope Haven Ranch LLC.

25/07/2024

Wasn’t planning to hop on for a first ride, but he felt ready. So glad I did, he was like “I got this, just sit back.”

Preparation, patience, confidence building, time investment…… all pieces of a great start. So far to go- but that’s ok. I’ve been waiting for this boy for 4 years…..

💕

19/07/2024

Well I couldn’t be happier with this sale!! Goodbye sweet hope!! I believe you have found a wonderful home to fit you!!! No sooner to her new home then she tried on her new tack and headed out down the roads like a pro!!! I’ll miss you, but seeing this made me so happy- and letting you go much easier! 💕

08/06/2024

04/06/2024

Yesterday.

One blind, one unrideable.

What an amazing day and clinic!!! Every horse is an opportunity if we let them be, let them change us. Over the course of 7 hours we worked together.

So thankful for these clients coming in and sharing such a unique journey…. Beginning with me.

Months ago phone calls and conversations began to tell me the stories of Cash and Gilly.

Cash, an 8 year old was purchased knowing he was blind in one eye- but his owner did not know he would soon lose his vision completely in the other. Very shortly after purchasing cash’s sight went to total darkness.

I admire, and respect his owner who has taken this on as a challenge, a new journey to figure out as she navigates something new for both of them- and me. Yesterday we spent our first time together exploring how to help cash lean on her, trust her through feel but without any of the help vision gives us. With cash there is no space barriers, he can’t respond to my head tilt- or intention through distance- everything changes. How we lead, how we stop, move, how to find softness. It was challenging as he is quite forward and anxious since his vision left entirely. But she knew who he was before- and we need to help him find that!!! He has become VERY strong through his neck, so I gave her some tools to work with to help him on lead, then to help his anxious feet and teach him that I’m asking for for softness safely and with some distance- we began long lining (long lining for a blind horse allows you to help them on both sides of their body, where lunging can just make them dizzy, and doesn’t serve a strong purpose without visual)It took a long hour - but a good one as cash started to understand through my hands that I can help him relax, lean on me, let me help you to feel safe- quiet. I can’t wait for our next session!!! 🤍 His owner has begun learning the new skill of long lining to help him and build connection with him.

Gilly.

This older pony has been on a long journey. Her prognosis years ago not good, and circumstances that seemed unchangeable- her owner made an incredibly difficult decision to sell her. The details will be kept short- but Gilly has been through many places, unfortunate training techniques, in attempts to ride her. She has defeated every place she has been too- whether from pain, or lack of preparation this girl learned to buck, and buck so well that no one has been able to use her. And she fell from one hand to the next, some well meaning, others I’m not sure. Either way- I don’t need her story to see what’s presented in front of me.

Gilly hit the round pen with zero interest in connection. Her owner, will never sell her. She is home. And she is dedicated to whatever outcome, rideable/unrideable- but she wants to find her girl under that shut down mind that she once taught how to open up.

That’s the hardest part here, I’m getting stricter in my lesson/training program. I want to work with those that want to learn to teach their own horses. Gilly was an untrusting pony, her owner- showed her how to trust a bit, helped her to open up, got her to want to be around her- started to build trust. But what this pony learned going through many places all focused on breaking her- is to shut down, disconnect entirely.

Yesterday- we began, just slightly the journey to restart connection. I always love the first times a horse decides “hey it’s not so bad with you,” and begins to soften. Gilly began some much needed steps- but I found some very concerning pieces of her training missing or shaky/ if I was going to ride a horse. Bolting/running from fly sprays, whips touching or rubbing on flanks, or lower legs sent her spinning full tilt, flag around or over her and she would stiffen up and get ready to panic.

One thing I try to press intensely- dont stop your lesson where they get it right. Stop where they feel good. Stop where they get soft/relax. Her owner went home with a full basket of concepts to help Gilly be brave. We didn’t stop just when the brave girl stilled her feet, but when she could lower, breath, relax, shake it off etc.

Gilly has alot of medical testing behind her, but no one can give a definitive answer as to if she is unrideable/or just learned to buck. So we are taking it one step at a time, listening to her- taking one day at a time.

Thank you so much for the opportunity Heather and Nikki. What Amazing owners you both are!!

03/06/2024

A different topic, we have all dreamed of fancy barns, or stall barns just our style, run in sheds etc….. all seem normal. I always dreamed of long stall rows and horses heads popping over the gates…. I have a few of those- but I would never have believed I would change my mind!!!

After joining a couple groups a while back looking for different barn ideas, pasture ideas, tools and hay ideas…. I started to stumble upon what seemed like unconventionally large run ins- often called “loafing barns” or other names. They seemed mammoth in size and one might think quite a bit could be done with the run in space.

I fell in LOVE with a few designs I saw, and decided to try it on the space I had left unused In my barn- or where I typically stored hay. And now I’m completely sold. Studies have shown cortisol (indicators of stress) levels in horses and how they spike, raise etc when in stalls. Still- I didn’t know how it REALLY could work in the end. And I was planning to build in a couple more stalls to finish the space….

Not now. It took them about 6 months to completely switch over. The 32ft divided Leanto is abandoned entirely. And the barn is conveniently easier to clean anyways. The whole group is quieter, I mean really quiet. And group naps are frequent!!! Loving this new feel in my shelters and wanted to share!! In case anyone else needs to hear this too 🤍

02/06/2024

My first, and so far only baby I threw on our farm from a favorite mare- wow! Four years waiting for these moments…. And he is doing them so well!!! Big beautiful legacy!!! We are just getting started!

First day hopping on and saddling ….. so excited to see who we become together!!

29/05/2024

Enjoying a morning cuddle or two while I listen to a good book 🙂

18/05/2024

She’s getting there!!!! But look at that shadow showing how she is remembering to carry herself - even on the scary trail ride out alone!!

Try for perfection, and you’ll break them- work to find their try- and you gain the world 🤍🤍

16/05/2024

Look who headed out in front 🙂

Backstory: Liara I bought a few years ago, but she sat most of those years due to babies, and other client horses that kept me too busy to get her going 🙂 she is 7 years old this year and getting a solid restart, and she was mostly a full restart from the ground up. This lusitana/paint cross (basically an Azteca) really has a quick mind, but she has been an extremely insecure horse out in the open. She was the horse all my visiting barn friends were afraid of with a big personality, load visual opinions about everything.

She really resents being pushed and I found I had to really slow down and take steps back every time I found tiny issues and stress - the statement “she keeps me honest” could not be more true for me than with this girl. I’ve fallen head over heels for her- but she lets me know EVERY single time she is confused, upset, etc….. and when I take the time to work it out with her- we just get stronger and stronger as a team. This girl is teaching me so much.

It’s so amazing to see the hours of hard work paying off, fixing forwards, softening, lateral work, etc….. THEN hitting the trail- she was crossing bridges, terrain (there was toooons of down brush and logs here) like a much more seasoned horse and this was her first trail ride out. So so very proud of her!!!

Progress is truly from the time we put in, our consistency, showing up even when we fail, starting again, being willing to be flexible, being willing to be wrong. Finding joy in the effort- rather than just in a finished project.

🤍❤️🤍

06/05/2024

A little ride to the river to change things up a bit 🙂 - first time in big water for this lady 👏😁🥰

01/05/2024

If you’re no going forwards- you’re going up and down, sideways or any other ways 🤭😁

That’s just reality. Not going forwards can be to fast or too slow…. Did you know this?

We often think it’s the slow ones that need to “get going”- but if you’ve ever been on a bolting, or rushing horse that isn’t going where you want either. Forwards is the magical feeling where the horse is really working with you, under you, fluidly. Yes it can be broken down more- but quite simply I’m describing how it feels.

This boy was and does struggle with being stuck, lol- not just slow- but randomly known to just plant his feet in the ground…. you could almost see the roots spreading… 😂

More to come on this boy- and his owner! As he learns to unlock, load in the trailer, and learn that going forwards is actually a good thing :))

28/04/2024

This girl really has struggled to go ‘forward’ well, working through that has been teaching me soooo much!!! (Each horse- keeps me learning!!) it’s so so nice after a long difficult session trying to let her know ‘I just want to go with you’ - and her ears pinning flat back and snaking her head all around. I adore this horse, and all her opinions- but allowing them to have opinions does not mean I hop off and give her a pat in that moment. We have done a lot of work to lead her to the place of “I always bring you back to quiet- trust me.”
This was our last double check on how she felt- and look!!! No ears pinned!! 😱🥰⭐️⭐️

28/04/2024

This boy just blew me out of the water!!! I’ve got nothing to add… 🥰

25/04/2024

A little fun with one of my dearest friends today, playing with liberty/connection after a good ride :)

I love ending my rides this way too- helps me to feel out how the horse is feeling, and end on a positive note- with simpler questions!

16/04/2024

I had to share!! Apparently trailer loading week is a contagious idea…. He’s fixing his pony problems too! I promise…. I had nothing to do with this!!!! Too funny!